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​Probation

Students are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. A GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on warning status. If this status persists for two quarters, the student will be requested to leave the program. If he or she decides to remain in the program, the student will be placed on academic probation and be given one quarter to raise the GPA to 3.0 If the student’s GPA falls to 2.5 or below, he or she will be immediately placed on academic probation and must raise the GPA to 3.0 in the next quarter or face dismissal from the program. If the GPA falls to 2.5 or below a second time the student will be dismissed from the program.

When a student is admitted to the MALS or IDS Program under the category of “Conditional Admission” he or she is considered under academic probation until the conditions are met. The conditions are usually that a student must earn a grade of B or higher in all courses taken during the first three quarters in the program. The student may request continued registration in the second and third quarters if the grades are not adequate in the first quarter. If the conditions of admission are not met by the third quarter, the student will be dismissed from the program. Other conditions may include the requirement to take certain courses, and the student must comply within the specified time period or face dismissal.

IDS students who select courses that are not on their approved List of Courses (LOC) may face warning after one quarter and probation after two quarters if they do not seek approval for their altered programs. The procedure for altering an approved List of Courses is found on the MALS and IDS Sharepoint site.

Students whose grades fall below the minimums described above will be considered in the categories of warning or probation whether or not the program administrators are aware of the student’s grades. The program administrators may apply the categories of warning or probation retroactively if the student does not self-report his or her status. Students are required to seek advisement from program administrators when facing academic warning or probation. A student who does not contact program administrators about potential warning or probation status may face dismissal from the program.

Dismissal

In addition to the minimum GPA requirement, students may be dismissed for breaches of academic honesty or breaches of the code of student responsibility. MALS students may also face dismissal for failure to complete Core Courses with a grade of B or higher within the first half of their academic career. Students who have completed their coursework, but who are still working on their thesis, practicum or other capstone project must be enrolled in Candidacy Continuation (MLS 502) during the three quarters of the academic school year. After three consecutive terms of candidacy continuation, students should enroll in Active Status (MLS 501) if they still require time to complete their capstone. Failure to enroll in candidacy continuation or advanced status may result in dismissal from the program if the student has not formally withdrawn from the program.

Readmission

When a student has withdrawn from the program or has not been enrolled in classes for three or more quarters during the academic year, he or she must apply for readmission using the Readmission and Reclassification form available from the LAS Graduate website.

Transfer Credit

A student may apply to transfer up to three courses of graduate work from another accredited institution. The courses must be approved by the Program Director as part of the student’s overall course of study for both MALS and IDS students. The courses must then be approved for transfer credit by the Office of Student Records.

Undergraduate Courses

Courses at the 200-level cannot be approved for graduate credit, even when a student needs to take such a course as preparation for more advanced work. Courses at the 300-level may be approved for graduate credit under the following circumstances: (1) The course is necessary as a part of the student’s overall interdisciplinary program. (2) The department does not offer courses in the same area on the graduate level. (3) The student has arranged with the professor to enhance the course to graduate level by the addition or alteration of assignments, including the final project of the course. Unless approved by the Program Director, a student should take no more than four 300-level courses as part of his or her program.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, students in the MALS and IDS Programs must complete the coursework specific to their programs (either 48 or 52 credit hours depending on capstone choice) with a minimum GPA of greater than 2.5, a midpoint and culminating point essay, the submission of an electronic portfolio of final and other projects from a minimum of six courses, and one of four capstone choices offered by the program. A full description of the requirements for the capstones, as well as further policies and procedures for both programs, are outlined in the documents found on the MALS and IDS SharePoint site under Program Documents. Students in the program are expected to be familiar with these policies and procedures and to comply with them.

Graduation with Distinction

In order to have the degree conferred with distinction, students in MALS and IDS completing their programs with a thesis or practicum capstone (48 credit hours) must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75, plus earn a designation of “distinction” on their thesis or practicum by their thesis advisor and at least one of the two readers on their committee. Thesis and practicum writers eligible for distinction are required to present their projects at a MALS/IDS event within three academic quarters of completion. Students in MALS and IDS completing their programs with an exit course or enhanced portfolio essay capstone (52 credit hours) must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.85 in order to graduate with distinction.

Time Limit

Students are normally expected to complete the MALS or IDS Program within four academic years. During quarters in which no courses are taken, students are required to maintain active status in the program by registering for Candidacy Continuation or Active Status. Students who have not taken courses for three consecutive quarters during the regular academic year and have not registered for Candidacy Continuation or Active Status must apply for readmission using the Readmission and Reclassification form listed here.